svetlu
04-07-2008, 04:27 PM
Anything but Survival
The game show, Survivor, is an excellent example of how not to behave in order to survive in our world. But are we—people of the world, stranded on planet Earth—really that different from the contestants on Survivor?
"It’s all strategy, like, nothing but strategy. If anyone comes up to you it’s like: “Hey, what’s your favorite music?”— They don’t care what that answer is. The next question is: “What’s the alliance? Who’s next?” ... For me, the game Survivor is the greatest game ever: It’s like “Ah, I feel that evil.” It’s just fun for me."
Contestant Johnny Fairplay,
Survivor, Micronesia, CBS Broadcasting Inc.
“In simple words, the nature of each and every person is to exploit the lives of all the world’s Creations for one’s own good. And everything that one gives to another—is only due to a necessity … And all the difference is in people’s choices: One chooses to exploit others by attaining low passions, the other by attaining governance, and the third by attaining honor.”
Kabbalist Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam),
“Peace in the World”
“Survivor.” At one time, this word evoked thoughts of someone heroically rising above adversity in order to live. We talk about survivors of the Holocaust or Russian gulags; there are cancer survivors and survivors of natural or man-made disasters. Today, however, the word brings to mind images of exotic beaches where skimpily clad women and men battle each other for a $1,000,000 grand prize. In 2002, Survivor was the top-rated series on American TV.
On the show, 16 to 20 people are divided into tribes and stranded in a remote location. They compete against each other in “challenges” and each night one member of the losing tribe is voted off the show. The numbers dwindle until only one tribe is left, and its members fight to be the last person standing—the grand prize winner.
In order to make it to the coveted final spot, alliances are forged and broken. As one player put it, “It’s a game of loyalty and deception.” Competitors lie, scheme, and steal to solidify their positions in the tribe. They will do almost anything to their “friends” to win that tempting $1,000,000 dangled before them.
Kabbalah, which has existed for over five thousand years, shows how we can actually transform our present nature—from egoism to altruism. Ashlag took this ancient wisdom and divided its teachings into three main stages:
In the first stage (which we are just now entering), we must uncover the egoism within each and every one of us, which keeps us isolated from each other and prevents us from experiencing true love. Furthermore, we must recognize how our egoistic nature can drive us to perform despicable acts simply to get what we want. Once we clearly see the connection between our egoism and all the evil in the world, and once we can no longer deny it—it is in our power to begin creating change.
In the next stage, we must change the hierarchy of values in society. We must transform ourselves from a society that worships the ego to a society that values giving to, and loving, others.
In fact, we all try to teach our children to share and care for others. However, our efforts are quickly overshadowed by the values our children meet in reality. We must begin to live what we teach our children. And this can be done only when contributing to society becomes more important to us than selfish satisfaction.
Once we complete the first two stages, we will begin to recognize that we are all integrated parts of one, inclusive system. We will realize how interconnected and interdependent we are. Our new perceptions will grant us the ability to actualize one of Kabbalah’s central principles—Arvut (Mutual Guarantee). This means that one’s concern about the happiness and well-being of others becomes greater than one’s self-concern. Correspondingly, we will experience the same kind of love and concern returning to us from all others. Then, we will raise each other up, rather than trample over others on our way to “success.”
Achieving this seems far away because we are at the beginning stage of our journey. What we currently don’t see is that this dynamic between us is rooted in nature. However, as we learn and grow in wisdom, we will find that there is nothing more natural in the world than love. At that point, rather than letting the future produce a single “survivor” driven by greed, we will have a world of survivors, all of whom will be driven by love.
The game show, Survivor, is an excellent example of how not to behave in order to survive in our world. But are we—people of the world, stranded on planet Earth—really that different from the contestants on Survivor?
"It’s all strategy, like, nothing but strategy. If anyone comes up to you it’s like: “Hey, what’s your favorite music?”— They don’t care what that answer is. The next question is: “What’s the alliance? Who’s next?” ... For me, the game Survivor is the greatest game ever: It’s like “Ah, I feel that evil.” It’s just fun for me."
Contestant Johnny Fairplay,
Survivor, Micronesia, CBS Broadcasting Inc.
“In simple words, the nature of each and every person is to exploit the lives of all the world’s Creations for one’s own good. And everything that one gives to another—is only due to a necessity … And all the difference is in people’s choices: One chooses to exploit others by attaining low passions, the other by attaining governance, and the third by attaining honor.”
Kabbalist Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam),
“Peace in the World”
“Survivor.” At one time, this word evoked thoughts of someone heroically rising above adversity in order to live. We talk about survivors of the Holocaust or Russian gulags; there are cancer survivors and survivors of natural or man-made disasters. Today, however, the word brings to mind images of exotic beaches where skimpily clad women and men battle each other for a $1,000,000 grand prize. In 2002, Survivor was the top-rated series on American TV.
On the show, 16 to 20 people are divided into tribes and stranded in a remote location. They compete against each other in “challenges” and each night one member of the losing tribe is voted off the show. The numbers dwindle until only one tribe is left, and its members fight to be the last person standing—the grand prize winner.
In order to make it to the coveted final spot, alliances are forged and broken. As one player put it, “It’s a game of loyalty and deception.” Competitors lie, scheme, and steal to solidify their positions in the tribe. They will do almost anything to their “friends” to win that tempting $1,000,000 dangled before them.
Kabbalah, which has existed for over five thousand years, shows how we can actually transform our present nature—from egoism to altruism. Ashlag took this ancient wisdom and divided its teachings into three main stages:
In the first stage (which we are just now entering), we must uncover the egoism within each and every one of us, which keeps us isolated from each other and prevents us from experiencing true love. Furthermore, we must recognize how our egoistic nature can drive us to perform despicable acts simply to get what we want. Once we clearly see the connection between our egoism and all the evil in the world, and once we can no longer deny it—it is in our power to begin creating change.
In the next stage, we must change the hierarchy of values in society. We must transform ourselves from a society that worships the ego to a society that values giving to, and loving, others.
In fact, we all try to teach our children to share and care for others. However, our efforts are quickly overshadowed by the values our children meet in reality. We must begin to live what we teach our children. And this can be done only when contributing to society becomes more important to us than selfish satisfaction.
Once we complete the first two stages, we will begin to recognize that we are all integrated parts of one, inclusive system. We will realize how interconnected and interdependent we are. Our new perceptions will grant us the ability to actualize one of Kabbalah’s central principles—Arvut (Mutual Guarantee). This means that one’s concern about the happiness and well-being of others becomes greater than one’s self-concern. Correspondingly, we will experience the same kind of love and concern returning to us from all others. Then, we will raise each other up, rather than trample over others on our way to “success.”
Achieving this seems far away because we are at the beginning stage of our journey. What we currently don’t see is that this dynamic between us is rooted in nature. However, as we learn and grow in wisdom, we will find that there is nothing more natural in the world than love. At that point, rather than letting the future produce a single “survivor” driven by greed, we will have a world of survivors, all of whom will be driven by love.